Vehicle steering mechanism



C. DAHL. .VEHICLE STEERING MECHANISM.

APPucmou mEDJuLY 14; 1920.

Patented Feb. 15, 1921.

ifo

BY *V3 A TTORNE ya ,lower plate, 3, spaced from the upper UNITED srAiiis Parlant orrice.

CONRAD DA1-IL, 0F GHCAGG, IlLLNOlrS.`

VEHICLE STEERING MECHANESM.

Application filed Vpant-operated vehicles, and for steering by the feet of the occupant, but not limited to these specific types of vehicles. It consists in the elements and features of construction shown and described, as indicated in the claims.

ln the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of the frame structure of a vehicle equipped with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a section at the line, 2-2, on

Fig., 1, upon a large scale.

a section at the line, 33, on l the same scale as Fig. 2.

Y ig. fl is a section at the line, 44, on Fi 1, upon the same scale as Fig. 2.

ln the structure shown in the drawings, 1, 1, are longitudinally-extending side bars of the frame structure of a vehicle, the saine being shown divei'ging rearwardly for purposes not concerned with this invention. The frame bars are connected rigidly by the rear axle and super-structure, and at the forward end by the upper plate, 2, of the fixed Vfront axle, which comprises also a plate a distance adequate to accommodate between the two plates the steering wheel spindles and operating connections hereinafter described. rl`he spacing apart of the two plates, 2 and 3, is effected by means of spacing sleeves, t, L1, on the bolts, 5, 5, by which the longitudin" l bars, 1, 1, are made fast to the fixed front axle member 2. The steering wheel spindles, 6, 6, aiepivoted for their steering movement to the opposite ends of the fixed axle comprising the bars, 2 and 3, the spindle being extended between said two bars at its inner end for the operating connection thereto, the pivot bolt, 7, being, for purposes hereinafter explained, made freely rig. s is Fi 1, upon Specification of Letters Patent.

spindle Yatentcd Feb. 15, 1921.

muy i4, i920. serial No. 396,203.

insertible through both the bars and the intervening spindle, and retained by a Cotter pin or the like, inserted through the said pivot bolt above and below said bars, 2 and 3, respectively,-see Fig. 2. For operating the steering wheel spindles for steering, levers, 8, 8, positioned for being operated by the feet of the occupant, are fulcruined on the longitudinal side bars, 1, 1, projecting outward from said bars respectively. Fromthe inner end of each of the operating levers, 8, an extensor link, 10, extends to the inner end of a radius lever, 11, pivoted on the side bar, 1, and extending inward from its pivot; and from the same pivot by which the extensor link is connected to the radius lever, an operatinglink, 12, extends tothe inner end of the steering wheel spindle at that side of the vehicle. Said inner end of the spindle is forked, as seen at 7, and the forward end of the `operating link, 12,

is entered in the crotch of the fork for its vmeans hereinafter specified for making it Vrigid with the spindle,

movement therewith inthe plane in which the spindle moves for steering, by being engaged Yboth by the pivot, 7, by which the is pivoted to the fixed front axle bar, and also with the pivot, 14, by which the operating link, 12, is connected with the spindle. The last mentioned pivot is constructed so as to operate as a rivet in securing the lever plate, 13, to the spindle, being made with a shoulder, 14, which stops against the upper or inner side of the upper fork prong of the spindle, andbeing headed down above the lever plate, as seen at 14D, thus making the pivot bolt, 14, and the lever plate, 13, rigid with theV spindle, without in any manner binding the operating link, 12, at its pivotal connection with the spindle. Upon the upper side of the lower front axle plate, 3, under the inner end of each of the spindles there is mounted fixedly a sectoral wear plate, 16, horizontally extended transversely of the axle for seating the inner end 0f the spindle atV all positions in its steering movement.

ln order to accommodate the position of the operating foot lever, 8, to the length is fixed thereto for l'of similarly spaced pivot bolt holes, 'which the the pivot bolt, 8",

of limb of the occupant, who must reach the steering lever from his position upon the seat, 20, the metal bar, 2l, which is secured to the lower side of lthe longitudinal bar, l, to alord fulcrum support for the lever, 8, has a multiplicity of pivot bolt holes, 21a, distributed over its length, in any one of which the pivot bolt, 22, may be placed. And to correspondingly vary the operative length of the eXtensor link, 10, that link is provided with a like multiplicity 10a, at

pivot pin which connects the operating lever with the eXtensor link may be engaged.

To varyfthe length of lever stroke necessary for themaximum turning movement 0f 'the steering Vwheel spindle required or for which thevehicle is-adapted, a plurality of pivot bolt holes, 8b, areprovided in the short arm of the lever, 8, that is, at theinner side of its iulorum, at anyone of which the pivot connecting the lever with the eXtensor link may be engaged.

p The radius lever, 11, is similarly provided with a plurality of pivot bolt holes, 11a, at different distances'from its fulcrum on the longitudinal side bar, 1, at any oneoiI which the extensor link may b e engagedl with the radius lever; and theoperating link, l2, may be engaged with an one of the said pivot bolt holes, lloi' the radius lever, regardless ofthe vengagement of the extensor link; that is to say, the eX- tensor link and the operating link may be engaged with the same or with different bolt holes in the radius lever, 12. Upon consideration of the construction above described in respect to the plurality of pivotal connections provided on the operating lever and the radius lever, it will be seen that the two pivot bolt holes in the inner arm of the operatinglever, 8, and two pivot bolt holes in the lever. arm of the radius lever, 11, four different leverages are provided; .each of which is available with theoperating link, 12,V connected at either of the two holes on the radius lever, 11,'making eight leverages in all, .and that with the position for mounting thejoperating leverat any one of its plurality of positions alongl `the bar, 21, on.

the side bar, 1, all of these eight leverages are available at any of the positions to which the operating lever may be adjusted along the frame 4 25, is a wear plate'on the under side of the side bar, 1,

against which the head of may bear in the movement of the lever, 8. For afordingthisbearing at the different pivotal connections provided inthe lever, 8, this wear plate is madewide enough to span both the holes, 8b, as-seen in iFig. 1.

The steering vpedal* -is desirable made as seen inF ig. 2, in the form of a loop, 8f, into Y ing lever toward and from which the rider will insert his foot, then obtaining engagement Vwhich is Veffective for steering without'regard to down pressure of the foot on the pedal.

1 claim l. 1n an occupant-operated vehicle, in combination 4with the frame and steering wheel spindles pivoted thereto for their steering movement, a steering lever fulcrumed on the frame; anidle radius lever pivoted on the frame intermediate the steering lever and the transverse line at which the steering wheel spindles are pivotedgan eXtensor link` connecting the steering lever and the radius lever, and an operating link extending from the radius lever to the wheel spindle.

2. 1n the construction defined in claim 1 foregoing, means for variably positioning the steering lever ,back'and forth'along the frame, and means for correspondingly varying the operative length of the eXtensor link.

3. 1n the construction delined in claim 1 foregoing; movement-transmitting connections between the two steering wheel spindles for turning bothl spindles simultaneously and equally.

4. 1n combination with a vehiCleVrame, steering' wheel spindles pivotedto the frame Vfor their steering movement; two separate operating links pivoted to the spindles respectively for turning them 1in steering; a plate for each spindle engaged therewith at both pivotalA connections mentioned, and thereby fined with respect to the wheel spindles respectively, and a link connecting the two plates at points therein oflset in the same direction from' the line of saidtwo pivotal connections of the respective spindles.

In the construction defined in claim 4 foregoing, the plate mentioned being riveted fast tothe Yspindles atv the pivots of the 0perating links thereto. y

6. 1n the construction defined in claim l, means for varying thepoint vof pivotal connection of the extensor link with the operatsaid lever. Y 7. ln the construction defined inclaim 1 foregoing, means for varying the point of connection of the eXtensor link with the radius lever toward and from the pivot of the lever on said frame. l

8; 1n the construction defined in claim l foregoing, means for independently varying the .points of longitudinal connection of the eXtensor links with the operating levers and the radius levers, respectively, toward and from thel fulcrums of the respective levers.

9.v 1n a structure for the purposel indicateda rigid front axle member constituting a transverse tie bar comprising two transversely. extending aXle plates rigidly spaced apart one above the other; steering wheel spindles pivotallyV mounted between the fulcrum oftheir opposite ends and extendfrom their pivotal connections operating connections to the spindles respeotivelyengaged therewith 5 at said inwardly extending parts andA seetoral wear plates mounted on the lower o the two axle plates7 on w hieh wear plates the inner ends of the spindles respectively bear.

In testimon whereof I have hereunto set 10 my handat Ahieago, Illinois, this twelfth day of July, 1920.

CONRAD DAHL. 

